Expressive means and stylistic devices

In order to portray the characters, to describe the setting and to reveal the main idea of the story convincingly the author resorts to some devices.

One should say that Kate Chopin brilliantly uses exactly lexical means to describe in a precise way the events of "A Pair of Silk Stockings" and to create vivd images.

The short story is full of cases of simile: a vision of the future like dim, gaunt monster sometimes appalled her, which is used to portray Mrs. Sommers's anxiety about her dull life, she smiled just as if she had been asked to inspect a tiara of diamonds, which emphasises the main heroine's feelings while she is doing shopping, she seemed for the time to be taking a rest from the laborious and fatiguing function, which highlights Mrs. Sommer's delight from devoting time and money to herself, she felt like lying back in the cushioned chair, which describes her impressions from being fitted and dressed, it was like a dream ended, which shows the end of Mrs. Sommers's oneday good life.

Cases of personification are also of great importance in the story, for example: her stockings and boots and well fitting gloves had worked marvels and the impulse was guiding her, which are used to itensify Mrs. Sommers desire and longing to spend her money agreebly. 

There are some cases of epithets as well: soft stepping waiters, shining crystal, spotless damask, gaudy woman, which represent the main character's vision of perfect wealty life.

Hyperboles, which are used in the given short story represent the state of mind and behaviour of the main heroine: she had no time - no second of time to devote to the past; she was not thinking at all. 
The example of irony underlines Mrs. Sommers's fastidiousness: She didn't want a profusion, she craved a nice and tasty bite - a half dozen blue-points, a plumb chop with cress, a something sweet - a creme-frappe, for instance, a glass of Rhine wine, and after all a small cup of black coffee. 

After all, the case of allusion makes the behaviour and thoughts of the main character more vivid and picturesque: to feel them glide serpect-like through her fingers, refering to Bible and showing temptations of Mrs. Sommers, which she can't resist.